Michigan bans conversion therapy for minors
The law prohibits state-licensed providers from engaging in the psychologically-damaging practice. Michigan is now the 22nd state in the United States to ban such “therapy.”
North & Central America
Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic form body to regulate AI development
The Frontier Model Forum will focus on the “safe and responsible” development of frontier AI models, referring to AI technology even more advanced than the examples available currently.
Jacksonville Jaguars’ Kevin Maxen becomes the first male professional men’s coach in the U.S. to come out as gay
In a historic moment, Jacksonville Jaguars assistant strength and conditioning coach Kevin Maxen has come out, becoming the NFL’s first male coach to publicly identify as gay.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti to become the first female top officer in the U.S. Navy
Franchetti, who will be the first woman ever in the joint chief of staffs, marks another first for the Biden administration’s Defense Department, which has now had the first Black secretary of defense and the first female Army secretary.
Number of EV charging points in the U.S. has nearly doubled in three years
In the first quarter of 2020, the U.S. had roughly 80,000 public charging stations nationwide. In Q1 2023, it surpassed 140,000 public stations.
U.S. destroys last of its Cold War chemical weapons
After over three decades of effort, the United States has destroyed the last of its chemical weapon stockpile that once consisted of 30,000 tonnes of deadly chemical agents in explosive munitions and storage containers.
Arizona governor greenlights over-the-counter birth control
Arizonans 18 and older will soon be able to go to their local pharmacy and purchase oral contraceptives without a doctor’s prescription.
U.K. to pardon women convicted of homosexuality
The British Home Office is expanding a program that pardons people convicted of any offense related to homosexuality. Previously, the program was only available to men, but it is now open to women.
41 countries implement mental health and resiliency training for healthcare workers
Project HOPE has created and implemented a training program on mental health and resiliency that has reached over 100,000 healthcare workers since the start of the pandemic.
Canada officially bans cosmetic animal testing and trade
This landmark decision is part of the Budget Implementation Act, not only prohibiting cosmetic animal testing but also putting an end to the sale of cosmetics that use new animal testing data for safety substantiation.